Hermann gruson



4 (Model.) l

H. GRUSON & A. HELLHOFP.

` EXPLOSIVB SHELL.

Patented Nov. 6, 1883.

u (EIL UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE,

HERMANN GRUSON, OF BUCKAU, PRUSSIA, AND ALBERT HELLHOFF, OF MENTZ, GRAND DUCHY OF HESSE, GERMANY.

ExPLoslVE SHELL,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 287,924, dated November 6, 1883.

Application iiled Novembrr 8, 1979. Renewed October 14, 1881. (Model.) Patented in GermnnyJuly 2, 1879, No. 12,901 in Eugland March 27, 1880, No. 1,285; in Sweden April 1, 1880; in France October 23, 1879, No. 133,320; in Belgium April 16, 1850, Nu. VV5l,l67; in Italy April 17, 1580, XXIII, 365; in Spain May 17, IBB, No. 645; in Austria-Hungary May 29, H80. NOHASIO and No.

38.365 in Portugal June 2f, 1880,No. C03,- in Norway August 20, 1F80, and in Canada January 19, 1889. No. 14,017.

To ail whom, t may concern:

Be it known that we, HERMANN GRUsoN, of Buckau, Kingdom of Prussia, manufacturer,

'and ALBERT HELLHOFF, of Mentz, Grand Duchy of Hesse, artillery officer, .have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Construction of Shells for use of Explosive Matter, whereof the following is aspeciiication.

Our invention relates to a new kind of shell or projectile, which is not charged with any completelyprepared explosive matter, but whichcontains the non-explosive component parts or ingredients thereof inelosed in separate vessels,thesevessels being suiciently frag'- ile as to break and to allow their contents to become mixed and to form the explosive substance when the projectile is discharged from the-gun, and whilcit is on its flight. As ingredients suitable for this purpose may be named, on one hand, nitric acid, and, on the other hand, the nitro derivatives of naphthas line, phenole, toluole, benzole, and xylole; but certain other substances may also' be used, the composition of the charge not constituting a part of this invention.

On the annexed sheet of drawings different arrangements of projectiles designed according to this invention are represented.

In Figure 1, A is the body of ,the projectile or shell, the top of which is screwed into the main part for allowing the vessels B and C,

which are made of glass, porcelain, or other fragile material, to be put into their place. In case the above-named ingredients are used for charging the shell,- one of these vessels may contain the nitric acid, the other vessel one or more ofthe nitro derivatives mentioned, and the latter substance or substances may be mixed with a certain quantity of the said acid, if prefered The vessel Clis supposed to have been provided with two apertures at b b, one for admission of the liquid, the other for the escape of l airV from the, vessel while being l1ed,.and these apertures have been sealed by melting their necks by a blow-pipe. The top of C is ground into the neck of B, which latter vessel havingbeen filled, the joint b evplode.

'for firing the charge is at the bottom.

tween B and C may be made completely tight by Water-glass or any other suitable cement. The strength of the vessels B and C is such that they will not be broken by concussions which may occur while. they are transported or handled. Moreover, rings a of any soft materialf such as india-rubber or feltare interposed between them and the walls of the shell, or the entire' space between the vessels and the shell is Vfilled with a similar material. When the shell is fired off from the gun, the impact thereby caused has the effect of shattering the vessels B and C. Their contents will thereupon mix with eachother, the mixing process being promoted by the rotation of the shell` during its flight, and by the .fragments of the vessels acting as stirrers, so that when the shell reaches its mark the explosive compound will have been formed. The same is thereupon caused to explode in the following manner: f

D is a tube having a Very thin bottom, and filled with gunpowder, This tube can slide in the hollow screw-plug H; but it is kept in its place by the pin G until the shell leaves the gun. C

E is a priming-capsule containing fulminate of mercury. When the shell is fired off, the centrifugal force resulting from its rotation causesthe pin G to fly out of its place, thus leaving the tube D at liberty to rush forward when the shell strikes its mark. In consequence, the firing-pin F penetrates the priming-capsule E, the gunpower in`D ignites, shatters the bottom of D, as also the thin plate H',

and causes the main Vcharge of the shell to ex- This detonating-fuse also formsl part of the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a shell in which the apparaltlllis e bottom of the firing-pin' F, which is by preference made of antimony, is held in its place by two lateral projections, c c, which break when the shell strikes itsmark. The pin thereupon rushes forward and pierces the detonating-fuse D E, consisting again of fulminate of mercury and gunpowder, or of theformer only. The v essel C is made of a shape to give room l former in so far as the vessels B and G are conplunges into the' cup rIhe vessels 25 stances oftheexplosive charge in two sepaany priming or firing device.

' in the shell, which breaks when the gun is fired 'more such vessels or two or more partitionfor the firingfdevice, 'and B is adapted to the conical forni of the cavity 'of the projectile.

The shells, Figs. 3 and 4, are similar to the.

cerned; but they are intended to be used with charges which will ,explode from the mere impact of the shell against a non-elastic mark,

and for this reason they are not provided with In the shell, Fig. 5, the explosion is caused in a novel manner by the pistonfl, which is held in its placejby a wire passed through it and through the point of the shell, After the shell has been fired off, andthe vessels B and C broken, apart jof the charge will flow through the lateral .perforations'cf the cup K into'theY interior o f the same. The piston I., on striking the mark, shears oi the retaining wire, K, and causes the substance contained within the saine to explode. The cup is thereby brok'en and thewhole charge ignited.

Eig. 6 shows av s hrnpnel-shell with time-fuse. 'B and 0, which 'are contained in a metallic tube, are supposedto be closed by sealing their orifices.

Instead of inclosing the constitutent subrate vessels, they may be kept apart from each otherby means of a fragile partition-wall withoi'. Moreover, instead of but two vessels, B

and C, or'of butpne partition-wall, three orl walls may be applied.

` The combination, withfa projectile of the character herein shown and described, of a detonating-fuse is :not claimed herein, as that subent parts necessary to form,

ject-matter is' con-tained in another application.

We claim as our invention 51. An explosive projectile consisting of- 'a hollow shell within which is. provided a plurality of compartments separated from each other by a fragile partition, the said compart-l ments containing constituent parts necessary to form, when brought together, an explosive compound, substantially as and for @the purf pose described.

2. An explosive projectile consisting of a shell in which is inclosed a plurality of vessels of glass or other fragile material, each containing a constituent part necessary to form an explosive compound when Aall are brought together by the rupture 'of the vessels, substantially as described. l

j' SfAn explosive projectile consisting of a hollow shellY within which is provided a plurality of compartments -separated by a fragile partition, said compartments containing con-4 stituent parts necessary to form, when brought together, anexplosive compound, with which shell is combined a plunger, I, substantially as described.

4. An explosive/.projectile consisting of a hollow shell, in which is containeda plurality of vessels adapted to. separately contain constituwhen brought together, an explosive compound, one of which vessels is constructed to form the means for closing the mouth of another vessel, substantially as described.

`In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specriication'in the presence'of two subscribing witnesses.

HERMANN GRUsoN.

ALBERT HELLHOFF.

Witnesses: l y

BERTrroLD Roi,r

Enwrinn'l?. MAC LEAN. 

